We would like to wish everyone a happy easter! Things have been very busy in the last few months which has left little time to work on content. I will try to work on some more articles in the next few weeks!

For now, I hope you are all enjoying the short but exciting NHL season and getting ready for some good playoff action!

We're already almost through the month of Movember! Busy times lately with some activities at Phil Martin's goalie academy as well as a superbly organized MoHockey event (www.mohockey.ca) ! There's nothing better than playing street hockey to raise funds for prostate cancer research and men's mental health all while sporting a wonderful moustache.

As time is tight lately, we haven't had time for any updates other than the comedy game recaps from the Flying frogs http://www.thehockeyresource.ca/flying-frogs .

We hope to have some time to put more content on during in the coming months!

The T-push is a core mobility technique for a goaltender. It is a quick movement used over relatively long distances (within the crease). It is usually used to follow the puck during a pass. The goaltender must be aware that he may have to transition to a butterfly slide should the pass become a one-timer.

To perform the T-Push dig your inside skate edge into the ice with the leg (outside leg) opposite to the direction of travel.

Transfer all your weight to the outside leg.

Turn the inside skate so it points in the direction of travel.

Turn your body towards the location you want to move to.

Push off with the outside leg.

When you reach the required location, stop using the inside leg.

Re-position your legs to square off with the puck.

As you progress, the motion will become fluid with steps 2 to 5 occurring simultaneously.

A few points to note:

The technique is performed from the basic stance.

Lead with your stick!

Move only the legs, the upper body should not move other than the initial rotation to stay square with the puck.

Quick, powerful pushes, long strides. You should not need to do this technique twice to reach your destination.

This technique is not for small adjustments!

If you are T-pushing from one post to the top of the crease on the opposite side (crossing the crease completely) you can stop with the same leg that pushed off to stay squared up with the puck. In all other situations, stopping with the same leg will get you out of position.

The shuffle technique is one of the most basic and important ones to know as a goaltender. It allows the goaltender to move from side to side while maintaining proper position and is used to remain in position when the puck moves on the ice surface.

To perform the shuffle dig your inside skate edge into the ice with the leg (outside leg) opposite to the direction of travel.

Transfer all your weight to the outside leg.

Once this is done, move the inside leg in the direction you want to travel.

Push off with the outside leg.

Shift your weight back to normal.

As you improve on this technique, the movement should become fluid, steps 2, 3 and 4 should occur almost simultaneously.

A few points to note:

Keep both skates facing forward, they should not move from the basic position

The technique is performed from the basic stance, the goaltender should be ready for a shot at any moment.

The movement involves only the legs, the upper body should always be facing the puck.

Skates should always remain in contact with the ice to ensure proper balance.

SHORT quick movements, this technique is for small adjustments not large distances

The inside skate should be scraping the ice surface (making snow) while moving

Our 7 year old son wanted to become a goaltender... We therefore decided to register him for Phil Martin Goalie academy which is a specialized camp for goaltenders but mostly since it is bilingual (francophone). Phil Martin and his dynamic team took the type to analyse the needs of each player, to draft a personal improvement plan which allowed the goaltenders to develop and improve their abilities while optimizing their physical conditioning. This had the effect of increasing our son's skating ability as well as improve his knowledge of the goaltending position. The camp was given professionally, in a safe and fun context. But the most important according to us was to see his pride and smile after the coaches encouraged him. Thank you, you have surpassed our expectations!

Just to let you know we are still alive and kicking unlike the NHL season it seems :(. Times are very busy lately but I have managed to write an article or two which are waiting for final pictures and review before being posted.

Playing Defense in non-contact play is more difficult than when contact is permitted since you are unable to surprise the opponent with a good hit taking him/her out of play. The way to play defense is similar but relies much more on poke-checking and being more passive than playing the body.

In order to reduce the chances of scoring, you have to keep the players towards the outside of the ice surface. Although it is non contact, you can still use your body to block the opponent's path to a certain degree and prevent him/her from going around you so use it to your advantage. If the player attempts to cut towards the centre of the ice and you are in his/her path, you will not get a penalty, that player is running into you vs you hitting them.

Keep making the player go to the outside while backing up to prevent him/her from going around you. (He/she should always be in front of you if you're skating backwards) Set a "limit" on the ice where you will no longer back up, usually between the hash marks and the crease, discuss this with your goaltender. At that point you stop and poke check. Backing up any more will just screen the goaltender and prevent him/her from stopping the puck. If the player does manage to go around you, he/she won't really have time to get a good shot off or deke the goaltender.

If while backing up you notice the player has a lot more speed than you do, it's time for plan B, turn around and skate forwards forcing him/her to the outside and try and poke the puck off the stick. While skating forward you can really use your body weight to push (not hit) your opponent towards the outside.

If the play is a 2 on 1, you have to play the pass, be less aggressive, place yourself between the two players to block the pass and slowly try and box the puck carrier to the outside. At this point, your job is to stop the pass and prevent the puck carrier from cutting in front of the net. The goaltender is given the shot. If you pass the "set point" go more aggressively on the puck carrier while still blocking the pass.

This year's camp was very successful and superbly organized. Big thanks to all the shooters, volunteers and especially Phil for spending so much time organizing everything and developing the next generation of goaltenders. Feedback from parents and goalies was great. The coaching staff noticed all goaltenders improved throughout the sessions both on and off the ice.

Next year's edition of the camp promises to be very successful!

Good luck to all of the goaltenders in the tryouts and we hope you have a successful season!

(Over 1000 Pictures and 10 hours of video were taken during the camp and will be sorted/edited and uploaded as time permits.)